Florida’s Amendment 4
Amendment 4 is considered to be one of the most talked about — and most controversial — amendments that are appearing on the ballot this election.
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Amendment 4 would enshrine abortion access in the Florida Constitution, thereby making it legal throughout the state. Florida currently has a law that prohibits abortions after six weeks, with some exceptions.
A Religious Issue
Many people who are against legal abortions have taken this stance because of their religious beliefs. In Florida, many religious leaders have also echoed this.
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However, different religions have different beliefs about abortion and a woman’s right to choose for her own body. As a result, many leaders of varying religions are split on this issue.
The Catholic Church Is Against Amendment 4
Deacon Gary Tester, the President of Catholic Charities of Central Florida, and an entity of the Diocese of Orlando, stated, “The Catholic Church in Florida is against Amendment 4.”
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This isn’t too surprising, as many Catholic and Christian leaders throughout Florida and the United States have also publicly come out against the legalization of abortion.
Looking at the Bible
According to Tester, he has looked at the Bible and various scriptures to make his determination that the church should be against Amendment 4.
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He said, “The first tenet of Catholic social teaching is that all life is sacred and all life has dignity. So of course all life starts in the womb.”
Other Religious Views
However, other religious leaders in Florida have taken a completely different stance — and they have publicly supported Amendment 4.
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Rabbi Rachael Jackson, with Congregation Reform Judaism, is one Florida religious leader who is in support of enshrining abortion in the state Constitution. Jackson said, “Congregation of Reform Judaism stands firmly on the side of Yes on 4.”
Looking at Different Scriptures
Similarly to Tester, Jackson has also looked to scripture for guidance on this difficult issue. However, Jackson has found a different result than Tester.
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Jackson explained why Congregation Reform Judaism is supporting Amendment 4, saying, “One of those decisions came from the Talmud. And even at that point, it says it is the woman’s right to figure out what is going on with her body.”
Publicly Sharing Their Views
Both religious leaders and their subsequent places of worship have publicly shared their stances on Amendment 4 — and will continue to.
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These religious leaders are going to continue to push their stance on this issue in different ways as they work to get the word out. As the election draws nearer, their efforts may increase.
Religion and Politics
Tester has explained how he and his church will publicly work against the passing of Amendment 4, saying, “Prayer cards have been created that can be distributed to our Parishes. We also have speakers who are available to go out and speak not only at parishes but other community venues where we’ve been requested.”
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Meanwhile, Jackson’s congregation is also working to share their views on why Floridians should vote “Yes” on Amendment 4 by making phone calls and mailing postcards. Both are examples of how religious leaders are making political moves in the modern era.
Florida’s Religious Push in the Classroom
Amendment 4’s religious battleground also comes as many Floridians have become concerned about the state’s concerted push to have more religion in public school classrooms.
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Florida recently passed a law that allows chaplains to be on public school grounds. This has been met with an uproar from those who are not religious, as well as those who don’t follow Catholic or Christian faiths.
Religious Favoritism
The Satanic Church has even stepped into the picture, as they’ve said they will also send their own chaplains under this new law.
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However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has fought against this, saying he’ll reject their attempt. Already, this has caused many to state that DeSantis and Florida are showing religious favoritism by only allowing some faiths to have a presence in public schools, rather than all faiths.
Understanding Different Beliefs
This latest battle over Amendment 4 perhaps shows how various religions have different views on many topics, particularly controversial ones.
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If Florida continues to push only one ideology on their public, then they could continue to see how religious leaders are publicly divided, as is seen in this public Amendment 4 fight.